DIY Network

Concrete Candleholder Learn how to make a heavy-duty concrete candleholder. From "Craft Lab" episode DCLB-241

Guest Matthew Newman joins host Jennifer Perkins and demonstrates how to make a concrete candleholder. These instructions are for making four candleholders.

advertisement

Concrete candleholder designed by Matthew Newman.

Materials:

1 bag Buddy Rhodes Concrete Mix
1 sheet melamine
white cement powder for paste
acrylic additive - optional
3" putty knife
2 quart plastic container
220- and 400-wet/dry sandpaper
1 gallon Concrete Solutions Stamped Concrete sealer or similar
3" quality paintbrush
diamond hand pads or water-fed polisher (rentable) & 400-grit diamond pads - optional
table saw, Skil saw or ask your lumber store to cut the pieces to size
cordless drill
1/32" drill bit
electric drill with mixing paddle
1-1/4" drywall screws
used tea light container, spray can cap or 2" PVC pipe (provides spacer for candle)
5 gallon bucket
rubber gloves
margin trowel

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F

Steps:

1. Forms/Molds. Cut five pieces of melamine to one 4" x 4" base and four 4" x 8" side panels or any desired size.

2. Screw the box walls together with 1-inch drywall screws — smooth side in (figure A).

3. Mixing Concrete. Add Buddy Rhodes Concrete mix to a quart of water and 3 to 4 scoops of concrete mix in a 5-gallon plastic bucket. Hand mix using a margin trowel or electric drill. It should be mixed to a consistency of thick cookie dough.

4. Placement. With rubber gloves on, take small amounts of the mix and begin pressing or squishing the mix into the corners and pack the mold to the top. While packing the concrete mix, leave some small spaces or air pockets between the handfuls, which will later be filled in with a colored paste to create a veined appearance. Insert an old cap from a bottle of spray paint or a thick cut piece of two-inch round PVC pipe or a used old tea light container. This leaves room for the candle to sit in (figure B). If using the PVC pipe, tape one end closed to make a bottom. Twist the cap (figure C) to ensure that is easily removed before inserting the candle.

5. Pasting. Remove from the mold (figure D) after 12 to 24 hours and begin applying the paste with a three-inch putty knife to all sides of the candleholder.

   Note: Paste is white cement mixed with water to a paint-like consistency. Mix in a two quart plastic bucket with a cordless drill and small "squirrel cage" mixer using one part water and two parts white cement.

6. With the putty knife, smear the paste into the voids and air pockets on the outside of the candleholder. Paste dries in three to four hours and excess paste can be removed using a palm sander and 120-grit sandpaper.

7. Repeat the pasting process three times to achieve a smooth surface (figure E). When removing the third pasting use 400-grit wet/dry paper and water to make the surface smoother.

8. Staining. Using rubber gloves, dampen the surface with water and apply acid stain (one part stain to two parts water) with a paintbrush or sponge (figure F). Allow to dry 30 minutes and rinse all surfaces with clean water and a sponge. Allow four to five hours drying time before sealing.

9. Sealing. Apply two coats of Concrete Solutions Stamped Concrete sealer or similar solvent-based sealer, using a quality paintbrush or sprayer. Allow 30 minutes between coats.

10. Place your finished candleholder in its new home or give as a unique gift!

Tips:

• Pre-drill holes for the screws to prevent "splitting" of the melamine. Or use a brad nailer to make the molds is faster.

• Using an acrylic additive will speed up the paste dry time and also make it much stronger.

• Using a water fed stone polisher will dramatically speed the pasting process and also give a smooth as glass surface profile to the concrete, using a 400-grit diamond pad. You can find the polisher at tool/equipment rental locations.

You won't have to worry about these candleholders falling over because they are made of concrete!

RESOURCES :
Buddy Rhodes Concrete Mix
Website: www.buddyrhodes.com

Decorative Concrete
ISBN: 0376011602
Author: Jeanne Huber
Publisher: Sunset Publishing Corporation (2005)

GUESTS :
Matthew Newman
Vision Concrete Institute
Website: www.visionconcreteinstitute.com